Shoulder-brace.



E. F. SMALL.

SHOULDER BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19-, 191s.

. 1,100,499, Patented June 16, 1914,

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOH L b/1474 05 67m; A

arm,

fl ATTORNEYS WITNESSES AW. w.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. P. SMALL.

SHOULDER BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,1913.

1,100,499, Patented June 16, 1914.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANouRAPl-I $0., WASHINGTON, D, c.

UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD FEATHERSTON SMALL, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

SHOULDER-BRACE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD FEATHER- STON SMALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoulder- Braces, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to body braces, and more particularly to a shoulder brace, my object being to provide a light sanitary brace particularly adapted to womens wear and which may be readily adjusted to lit and automatically adjust itself in accordance with the body movements of the wearer.

Other objects, and the advantages, of my improved shoulder brace will be made apparent in the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation illustrating the practical illustration of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved shoulder brace removed; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified form.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a waist line member which consists of a strap A adapted to pass around the waist of the wearer as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the ends of this strap having adjustable separable means whereby the strap may be comfortably secured, which means include a longitudinal series of studs a carried by one of the said ends and a longitudinal series of sockets a secured upon the other strap end. I also provide a transverse back strap B which, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to pass across the back of the wearer substantially in line with the apex of the shoulder blades. Shoulder loops C are formed at the sides of the transverse back strap B, the lower portions of these loops being continuations of the said back strap, and the upper portions thereof having continuations D which, in accordance with my invention, are directed diagonally and downwardly in such a manner as to cross substantially at the back strap. It is important that each of the diagonal straps D shall have a running connection with the back strap B, and to this end I provide the latter with a supplemental piece Z) secured at its ends thereto whereby its intermediate portion and the opposing part of the back Specification of Letters Patent.

AppIication filed March 19, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914. Serial No. 755,367.

strap B form a guide space therebetween through which the straps D may loosely pass. The lower ends of straps D are provided with end loops (Z and adjusting buckles (Z and the waist strap A is provided at points upon opposite sides of its rear center with permanent tabs (4 with which the loops (Z are connected. As will be thus 'clearly seen, the side portions of the transverse back strap B pass beneath the arm pits, where they merge into the lower forward portions of the shoulder loops O, and for the purpose of preventing these portions of the brace from curling I preferably secure thereto supplemental longitudinal pieces 0. Thus with the brace secured in adjusted position upon the wearer, it is permitted free movement in order to automatically adjust itself to body movements, owing to the running connection between the back strap and the continuations of the shoulder loops at the supplemental piece or guide 7).

Owing to the fact that the transverse back strap B passes directly transverse of the body over the apex of the shoulder blades, it produces a forward pressure in conjunction with the rearward pressure on the front of the shoulders by the forward portions of the shoulder loops G, and these pressures being equally divided, together with a free movement and automatic adjustment of the several body straps, eliminate all possibility of the usual tire incident to braces without these features.

In the form of my invention as shown in Fig. 3, the diagonal shoulder-to-waist straps E have each an end loop (2 and a buckle 6 whereby it may be adjusted as to its length. Each strap E is further provided with a member 6 for attaching thereto tabs 6 of similar form to those ordinarily used in connection with mens suspenders. In this manner the body brace may be well adapted for use without a waist line member.

It is my intention to form my improved brace of suitable light, non-elastic webbing or other fabric, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any particular material.

What I claim is A brace comprising a transverse back 10 therefrom and angularly toward one another,

the upper ends of said tabs forming loops, and guides secured through the tab loops and with which the lower loop ends of the shoulder-to-waist straps are engaged, all for the purpose described.

EDWARD FEATHERSTON SMALL.

Witnesses:

F. LIEBERMUTH, A. F. LIEBMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatentsi Washington, I). C. 

